JP4799425B2 - Optical analyzer including two-dimensional analysis of sewing or weaving yarn - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical analysis device for a sewing thread or a weaving thread described in the publicly known requirement section of an independent claim. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring the yarn count and the presence or absence of foreign matter and analyzing the shape of the yarn.

  There are known methods and apparatuses for monitoring a sewing thread or a weaving thread. For example, various techniques such as a capacitive type or an optical piezoelectric sensor are used.

  For example, as described in European Patent Publication No. 017551, a piezoelectric sensor device may be formed on such a member using, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic in combination with a fibrous ceramic or other member that contacts a sewing or weaving thread. The change caused by the roughness of the thread moving in a sliding manner is transmitted to the piezoelectric ceramic. The main advantage of this technology is that the presence of dust or yarn residues in contact with the fibrous ceramic is almost completely unaffected and the yarn itself automates the contact of the fibrous ceramic. It is because it will be cleaned.

  However, this technique has a major drawback in that a physical contact between the fibrous ceramic combined with the piezoelectric ceramic and the sewing thread or the weaving thread is necessarily required. In this technique, for example, to monitor a thread that is not allowed to touch during monitoring to prevent undesirable friction or rubbing, which causes changes in controlled object properties such as tension, or breaks the thread. I can't.

  Another disadvantage is that by causing the yarn to misrecognize a sliding movement, even if the yarn breaks, the device does not generate a signal to pause the textile machine, causing extremely severe vibration or noise. The sensitivity of the piezoelectric ceramic to its presence.

  In contrast, a capacitive sensor device measures the capacitance change of a capacitive sensor caused by a change in the dielectric, including the actual thread to be monitored. By measuring the capacitance change in the dielectric, the moving state of the yarn, the change in the count, etc. can be measured. The advantage of this technique is that the yarn can be monitored without direct contact with the yarn, and the presence of dust or yarn residue has only a minor effect on the measuring capability of the capacitive sensor.

  However, a significant drawback of these known devices is that they cannot monitor conductive sewing or weaving yarns, such as, for example, copper or steel yarns or yarns containing carbon fibers. Also, wet threads and threads wet with water or treated with antistatic or conductive oils cannot be monitored. This is because in the case of conductive sewing or weaving yarn and in the presence of water, the dielectric cannot be shorted and the yarn cannot be measured and monitored.

  In addition, capacitive systems are extremely sensitive to electric fields and electrostatic discharges, and in the presence of electric fields or electrostatic discharges, the state of the moving position may be misidentified, preventing accurate operation. Often there is.

  On the other hand, for example, the optical sensor device described in European Patent Publication No. 0519281 typically uses a light emitter and a light receiver that have a sewing thread or a weaving thread to be monitored in between.

  The main advantage of this technique is that any type of sewing or weaving yarn can be monitored without contact with such yarns, whether or not they are conductive.

  The drawback of this technique is mainly the sensitivity when the thread to be monitored forms dust or residue left on the light receiver and / or light emitter.

  The object of the present invention has the major advantages of the three different technologies mentioned above, i.e. making any kind of sewing or weaving thread contact the sewing or weaving thread as required, regardless of whether it is conductive or not. Can be monitored without dust, no problem with dust or thread residue formed, no problem with conductive oil or more simply water, no vibration, noise source and electric field etc. However, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical sensor device that does not cause a problem.

  Another object is to provide an optical sensor device that has a simple structure and is inexpensive.

  Another object is of the type described above, which can be used geometrically and ergonomically, in the textile machinery industry and other fields such as copper coils, motor windings, oil-filled transformers, etc. To provide an apparatus.

  Another object is to provide a device of the type described above which also incorporates the yarn guide function necessary to guide the yarn.

  Another purpose is to make it as large as possible so that the range sensitive to changes in the image of the yarn shape and / or position is much larger than the detection range of the light receiving element used, It is also an object of the present invention to provide an optical device of the type described above that meets the requirements with great flexibility.

  Yet another object is to provide a device of the type described above that is sealed and can operate without problems even under very severe conditions of use.

  Yet another object is to provide an apparatus capable of performing a two-dimensional analysis of a yarn to be monitored.

  These objects, and others that will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved by the apparatus described in the claims.

  The present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings showing non-limiting embodiments.

  Referring to the accompanying drawings, an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally designated 1 and includes two infrared light emitting elements 3 and 4 positioned at an angle with respect to each other, a photodiode, a phototransistor or And a light receiving element 5 made of PSD or the like. The light emitting elements 3 and 4 are preferably oriented so as to face the center of the light receiving element.

  The device 1 is also a means 6 that transmits infrared light and functions as a yarn guide, and also includes, for example, a fibrous ceramic made of zirconium or the like. A yarn F, which is fed to a textile machine (not shown) and whose movement is to be monitored, moves in this means 6. If the yarn breaks, the textile machine will suspend the textile machine and produce a product (consisting of multiple threads supplied to the textile machine) that will eventually become a defective product and must be discarded. To keep going.

  Such light transmission means functions as a yarn guide and prevents dust or powder from being deposited on the light receiving element 5 and changing its operating performance. The light transmitting means can controllably increase the light beam hitting the light transmitting means and increase the operation cone of the light receiving element 5 by increasing the irradiation cone shadow created by the thread F hit by the light rays emitted from the light emitting elements 3 and 4. Let

  These elements 3, 4 and 5 are combined with an electronic circuit 100 (FIG. 3) having a microprocessor unit 101. The electronic circuit 100 is of a known type.

  Here, it is assumed that the light emitting elements 3 and 4 operate simultaneously. As a result, two separate conical shadows 10 and 11 are formed according to the cross section of the yarn F, and these conical shadows strike the light receiving element 5. For this reason, as is well known, an electric signal proportional to the cross section of the yarn is generated.

Here, the thread F moves in the light transmitting means 6 and smoothly moves within the sensing range of the light receiving element 5, that is, changes its cross section while maintaining its position (however the sewing thread or the weaving thread is completely Even if the degree is high, the cross section usually changes from part to part). Due to this smooth movement, i.e. a change in cross section, a change in the position and / or shape of the conical shadows 10 and 11 impinging on the light receiving element 5 occurs in a known manner, resulting in a change in the resulting electrical signal. This signal is known to be a function of the monitored thread image and / or position change.

  Since one or more light-emitting elements 3 and 4 are provided, an extremely large image detection range is provided on the surface of the light-receiving element 5, so that the sewing thread or the woven yarn within this detection range can be obtained regardless of the position of the thread F. Easy and reliable monitoring. This means that the yarn F always strikes the light emitted from at least one of the light emitting elements 3 and 4 regardless of the position of the yarn F in the light transmitting means 6. The presence of the yarn is continuously detected (through the shadow of the yarn or the light reflection detected by the light receiving element 5).

  The light transmitting means 6 also allows the yarn to be accommodated within the detection range and guided within the detection range as required. Since the light transmitting means is transmissive to infrared light and is made of an abrasion-resistant material, the light transmitting means is also suitable for a state in which the light remains in contact with the yarn without damaging the yarn. It should be noted that the light-transmitting means may be in constant contact with the yarn F or mostly away from the yarn when feeding the yarn to the textile machine by unwinding from a suitable support (bobbin). It is. Here, “mostly” means that a mere transient contact sometimes occurs with the light transmission means 6 during the supply of the yarn.

  When the yarn and the light transmitting means 6 come into contact with each other, naturally, the light transmitting means 6 is automatically cleaned. As described above, when dust or yarn residue is formed, the device 1 cannot detect. The light transmitting means is cleaned by the thread when the thread slides, so that dust or thread residue does not accumulate.

  As a variant, the light-emitting elements 3 and 4 can be operated alternately instead of simultaneously, so that a conical shadow (for example the conical shadow 10 created by the light-emitting element 4) becomes a non-actuated light-emitting element (this In this case, a read signal may be output if it is not reduced by the irradiation provided by the light emitting element 3). In this way, the performance of the apparatus 1 is particularly good when the apparatus 1 is used not only for analyzing the movement state of the yarn F but also for other purposes such as analysis and measurement of the yarn count or cross section. Can be further improved.

Alternatively, FIG. 2 (here, the parts corresponding to the parts shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals) as seen by reference to, the device 1 has two light emission elements 3 And 4, the emitted light passes through the light transmitting means 6 that receives and guides the yarn, then hits the sewing thread or the weaving yarn F, and is reflected toward the light receiving element 5 (indicated by arrows 13 and 14). It may be. When receiving light, the light receiving element generates an electrical signal proportional to the amount of reflected light.

Even in this case, the light emitting elements 3 and 4 may be operated simultaneously or alternately.

  In a simplified form, the device 1 uses only one light emitting element 3 or 4 or a reflection member (such as a mirror) at a position opposite to the light emitting elements 3 and 4 shown in FIG. ) May be used to obtain a structure in which the solving means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are mixed.

  In a complicated mode, the number of light emitting elements may be three or more, for example, four or more, and the detection range of the light receiving element 5 may be increased.

  3, 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the device 1 according to the idea of the invention. In these drawings, members corresponding to those shown in the already described drawings are given the same reference numerals.

  In these figures, infrared light emitting elements 3 and 4, for example, KINGBRIGHT type code number K3010F3C and light transmitting means 6 are shown. For example, it is shown that it is made of a member such as alumina, zirconium, sapphire or synthetic ceramic and also functions as a yarn guide. In an economical manner, the light transmission means may be made of a simple plastic or glass made of a material such as nylon or polycarbonate.

  The light transmitting means 6 includes, for example, a ring-shaped main body having an open mouth. The main body portion includes both side edges 21 and 22, and a recess 24 is provided in both side edges to accommodate the stepped portion 26 protruding from the portion 27 that supports the parts 28 and 29 of the case 30 of the apparatus 1. . These two parts are overlapped with each other and closed (see FIGS. 4 and 5), thereby holding these elements 3, 4 and 5 and the electronic circuit 40 connected to them between the two parts.

  Both parts 28 and 29 are aligned with each other along opposing edges 31 and 32. The facing edges are preferably shaped so that they can fit together and secure the two parts together (to form a protrusion and a corresponding recess, as is well known). Fixing means (not shown) such as screws may be provided, or the bonding of both parts may be made permanent by applying an adhesive along the facing edges 31 and 32, or by ultrasonic bonding.

  A substantially flat support 33 on which these elements 3, 4 and 5 and the electronic circuit 40 are mounted is provided between the parts 28 and 29. When both parts are fixed to each other, the support is held by both parts.

  Both parts 28 and 29 and the support 33 have openings (indicated by 28A, 29A and 33A, respectively) corresponding to the holes 35 in the main body 20 of the light transmitting means 6. In these drawings, the openings 28A, 29A and 33A and the hole 35 have a substantially circular shape with one side opened, and thus the thread F is put into the hole 35 and the monitor is opened. An insertion path 37 for performing the above is formed.

  However, the main body portion 20 may have a different shape or size, and instead of an open ring shape that facilitates insertion of the yarn F as in the embodiment shown in FIG. If it is necessary to allow rotational movement (ballooning) or if the yarn is to be monitored during twisting or spiraling, it may be in a closed ring shape.

  The light receiving element 5 shown in FIG. 3 can be a position sensor PSD manufactured as code number 7105-05 of HAMAMATSU which is a famous company. Two LEDs 43 and 44 (e.g., red and green) are shown as indicating a defect or no problem, respectively. These LEDs are positioned on the arms 45 and 46 of the support 33 and protrude from the main body 33A of the support to positions corresponding to the windows 47 and 48 of the component 28 of the case 30. Like the component 29, this component is preferably formed like the support 33 with respect to the arm.

For example, an infrared light emitting element 44 having a SUNLED code number ZTN154W is provided at a position corresponding to the LED 43. For example, a phototransistor type photosensitive element 51 having a SUNLED code number ZRM154W is provided at a position corresponding to the LED 44 . These transmitter and receiver constitute an optical key or barrier that temporarily turns off the apparatus, for example, when the operator's index finger is interrupted. When this barrier is blocked again, the device is turned on. This optical key can be suitably used to reset an alarm signal or an acceptance signal for a communication address code.

  Further, FIG. 3 shows an input / output signal feed connector 55 for the apparatus 1. For example, such a signal is used for serial communication between the electronic control circuit of the textile machine to which the yarn F is supplied and the apparatus 1, and an abnormality such as breakage of the yarn occurs or a change in the number (for example, , Knots, tangles, or fibrous foreign matter), or when two yarns are combined during twisting or by winding the other yarn around one yarn (spiral treatment) In addition, when a change in the count caused by two or more yarns, in which the number of twists obtained by measurement is different from the set parameters, a stop signal for the textile machine may be issued.

  These functions are provided by the present apparatus 1 via an electronic circuit 100 and a microprocessor unit 101, which can be connected to an electronic control circuit of the textile machine via a connector 55.

  The electronic circuit 100 is configured and functions as follows.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the electrical schematic configuration of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises an optical position sensor 110 comprising a known PSD circuit in this illustration. Optical position sensors are used to capture direct images (FIG. 1) or reflected images (FIG. 2). Such an image is obtained by modulating infrared light irradiated by the light emitting elements 3 and 4 made of photodiodes. The photodiode is biased by a bias circuit composed of bias resistors 111 and 112.

  A microprocessor unit (or simply a microcontroller) 120 is provided to be connected to the resistor 111 via the gate 113. The microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120 can reduce the value of the current flowing through the photodiode 3 when the system is in a standby state or a low consumption state.

  In the PSD sensor 110, when infrared light is irradiated based on an image of a sewing thread or a weaving thread to be monitored, two infrared light images (yarn shapes) are generated depending on the position where the PSD optical sensor is irradiated. A current is generated at the output terminal (anode of the photodiode).

  These currents polarize resistors 124 and 125, a potential difference is generated across the resistors, and voltage signals VA and VB appear at outputs 122 and 123 of PSD sensor 110.

  Voltage signals VA and VB are input to a two-stage amplifier circuit 126 including operational amplifiers 127 and 128 and resistors and capacitors 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137. The two-stage amplifier circuit 126 obtains a reference signal from the resistors 140 and 141 and the filter capacitor 142. With such a circuit configuration, the differential amplifier is configured to amplify the potential difference applied to the resistors 124 and 125 described above, that is, the voltage signals VA and VB output from the PSD sensor 110.

  The two-stage amplifier circuit 126 generates a suitably amplified signal that exits the two-stage amplifier and is directed to the gates 150 and 151 of the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120. These amplified signals are, for example, equal to 1000 and 100 times the image change level detected at the input of the two-stage differential amplifier, resulting in a double control scale in the device.

  The amplified signals generated at the gates 150 and 151 of the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120 are converted from analog signals to digital signals in a known manner by the ADC unit forming part of the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120. .

  By this conversion, the above-described amplified signal is converted into a numerical value that is a function of an image related to the yarn to be monitored. According to the processing algorithm, the converted numerical value can determine whether the image change is a level value and a frequency value that are equal to or greater than the programmed minimum reference value.

  If the image change level and frequency values are less than a programmed reference value indicating the number of alarms that exceeds the programmable "number of alarms" value, an alarm signal is issued and the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120 gates 150 are generated. This signal is input to the protection / alarm block 149.

  Via bias resistors 160 and 161, the signal from gate 153 drives output transistor 162 to provide a (current) alarm signal that occurs at the (stop) input 163 of the connector.

  Resistor 165 is used as a shunt to allow the current generated by output transistor 162 to be measured. The voltage drop across this resistor is a function of the current produced by the output transistor.

  This voltage drop is measured by the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120 via a gate 168 connected to a resistor 165 via a decoupling resistor 170. Thereby, the stop output of this apparatus 1 is protected from a short circuit. In this regard, in the case of a high current exceeding a predetermined maximum value, the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120 protects the output transistor by turning off the output transistor 162.

  The diode 170 connected in parallel with the output transistor 162 also functions as a protection against voltage inversion between the collector and emitter of the output transistor 162.

  Through bias transistors 171 and 172 connected to the outputs 175 and 176 of the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120, the LEDs 43 and 44 can detect an abnormal state of the apparatus 1, and the green LED 43 that is in a conductive state is , All are displayed OK, and the red LED 44 in the conductive state displays the detected abnormality of the yarn. These LEDs 43 and 44 and the resistors attached to them constitute an abnormality detection block 180 for the apparatus 1.

  The device 1 is connected to a programming / communication unit that programs parameters relating to the number of alarms associated with the image change level limit value and, when the limit is exceeded, causes the device to turn on a stop output and a red alarm LED.

  Such communication takes place via the appropriate input and appropriate output of the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120, which is connected via the input decoupling resistor 185 and the output buffer 186, respectively. Interfaced by a connector 55.

  A power supply circuit 190 is also provided, and includes a known LC low-pass filter 191 and 192, an anti-polarization protection diode 193, and stabilization circuits 196 and 197. The first stabilizing circuit includes the bias components 200 and 201 and the filter 202 as accessories, and the stabilized output voltage of the stabilizing circuit 196 fixed to 5 V indicated by VCC5 is determined by these values. The second stabilization circuit 197 includes a disturbance prevention filter that belongs to the second power supply unit of 3.3 V and includes the capacitors 206 and 207.

  A power reset circuit 209 is also provided and consists of a stabilization circuit 210 connected to a resistor 211 connected to the gate 213 of the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120, and the microprocessor unit or microcontroller is faulty or defective in the network. If this happens, control and store the correct data.

  The electronic circuit 100 further includes a photodiode-type light emitting element 49 (biased by the resistor 210 and controlled by the microprocessor unit or the microcontroller 120 via the gate 231) and an attached bias resistor 232. And a photosensitive element 51 made of a phototransistor. As described above, these constitute an optical key stop barrier, and its operating state is read by the microprocessor unit or microcontroller 120 by detecting the corresponding input at the gate 113. This optical key can be used, for example, as a reset key for the yarn monitoring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention showing the spatial position of the light emitting element and the light receiving element when performing irradiation for directly detecting changes in position and / or image. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention showing the spatial position of the light emitting element and the light receiving element when performing irradiation for detecting changes in position and / or image by reflection. It is an exploded perspective view showing one of the embodiments of the device concerning the present invention. It is a front side perspective view at the time of assembling the apparatus shown in FIG. It is a back side perspective view at the time of assembling the apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic circuit diagram of the apparatus shown in FIG.

Claims (9)

At least one light emitting element (3, 4) and at least one light receiving element (5) are provided, and the light emitting element (3, 4) is detected by the yarn (F) before being detected by the light receiving element (5). ), And based on the detection of the light receiving element, such as movement, stop, dimensional defect or other dimensional feature between the light emitting element (3, 4) and the light receiving element (5), etc. The light transmission means (6), which clarifies the characteristics of the yarn (F) and is irradiated with the optical signal after the light signal hits the yarn (F) and functions as a yarn guide, is a light emitting element (3). 4) In the device for optically analyzing the sewing thread or weaving thread (F) supplied to the textile machine, which is interposed between the light receiving element (5), the light transmitting means (6) is made of a ceramic material. And the ceramic material is alumina, zirconium, sapphire and glass It comprises at least one, such a ceramic material is a transparent fibrous ceramic, the light transmitting means (6) is configured to constantly or transiently in contact with the yarn (F), the light transmitting means (6) comprises an at least partially annular body (20), the thread (F) being positioned in a hole (35) in the body . The annular main body (20) of the light transmitting means (6) is supported by a case (30), and the case is at least around the hole (35) of the main body (20) of the light transmitting means (6). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a shape that occupies a part.   Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the case (30) consists of two coupling parts (28, 29) and holds the light transmission means (6) between them.   The coupling parts (28, 29) of the case (30) have opposing edges (31, 32) that can be combined with each other, and the at least one light emitting element (28, 29) is interposed between the coupling parts (28, 29). 3, 4) and an electronic circuit (100) comprising the light receiving element (5), the light receiving element being connected to a microprocessor unit (120) and received by the light receiving element (5) 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the characteristics to be monitored of the yarn (F) is evaluated according to a preset algorithm based on an optical signal.   The coupling parts (28, 29) of the case (30) and the support (33) are a plurality of arms protruding from the main part, and the case (30) of the light transmission means (6) is Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least partly configured arms.   Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the arms constitute an insertion path (37) facing each other in a case (30) of the device (1).   The light emitting element (49) and the light sensitive element (51) are positioned on the opposing arms, and when blocked, these elements function as an optical barrier that modifies the operating state of the device (1). Device according to claim 6, characterized.   The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the light emitting element (3, 4) is positioned on at least one of the facing arms so as to face the light receiving element (5).   The number of the light emitting elements (3, 4) is at least two, and the light emitting element ensures that the yarn (F) is irradiated with light emitted from at least one of the light emitting elements. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is oriented.

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